Ribbon-shifting mechanism.



NO- 696,666. PATENTED AUG. 25, 1908. O.SPIRO.

RIBBON SHIFTING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED APR.27,1908.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

[NVENTOR War/(9.9 ,Zw'm' No. 896,866. PATENTED AUG. 25, 1908. 0 SPIRO RIBBON SHIFTING MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION TILED APR. 27,1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET '2,

UI'IARLES SPIRO, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

RIBBON-SHIFTING MEdI-IANIsM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 25, 1908.

Application filed April 27, 1908. Serial No. 429,459.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, (IHARLES Seine, citizen of the United States, residing ai New York, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful improvements in :Ribbon-Qhifting Mechanism, of which the following a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing. v

This invention relates to a ribbon shifting mechanism, and particularly to means for varying the extent of ribbon shift for use in connection with polychrome or multicolor ribbons so as to present either color thereof in the path of the'type bar.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel and improved construction whereby the .univcrsalbail may be shifted in position relative to the actuating key levers so as to vary the extent of depression necessary to operate this bail and the ribbon shifting arm carried thereby.

A. further object of the invention is to provide upon the bail a plurality of adjustable stops adapted to cooperate with the shifting plate carried upon theribbon'arm by which the relative position of said. arm to the bail may be varied for the purpose of imparting thereto a greater or less' travel, such means being controlled from a position adjacent to the kcyboardof the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for feeding the ribbon from the faccs of the spool next the typewriter platen so as to provide for the necessary slack re-.

quired in-the shifting of the arm for different lengths of travel relative to the fixed spool.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and the'novcl features thereof defined by the appended claims.

In the ('lrawii'1g:Figuro 1 is a central vertical section showing portions of a typewriter to which the invention is applied; Flg. 2 is a bottom plan of the shifting connection with the universal bail; Fig. 3 is a rear elevation thereof; Fig. 4 is a detail perspective of this connection Fig. is a similar view of the rod carrying the shifting arms; Fig. 6 is a per spective of the movable plate carried by said arm to engage the stop on the universal bail. Fig. 7 is a detail section on the line 77, Fig. 4 of the means for holding the rod, Fig.

- 8 is a detail perspective of the controlling lever for shifting the mechanism. Fig. 9 is a plan' of the ribbon carrier. Fig. 10 is a diagram showing the path of the type relative to the ribbon under different adjustments of the vibrator. like numerals refer to like parts in the several views of the (.lrawing.

Referring to the drawing, 10 designates the frame of a typewriter which may be of any desired construction or configuration, in which the key levers 1.1 are pivotally mounted at 12 and held in elevated position by means of springs 13. These levers control the type bars in the usual manner. Beneath the lovers 11 and pivotally mounted lever arms 15 to which the universal bail 16 is secured, which bail is normally held in contact with the levers 11 by means of the tensimispring 17 extending therefrom to a' fixed point. This bail is provided with the usual arm 18 carrying the dog mechanism for the. carriage by which the travel thereof is controlled. The bail is provided with the adjustable screws '19 and 20, the heads of which are disposed at different distances from the inner face of the bail so as to control the adjustment of the bail relative to the remaining 'arts. While headed screws. 19 and 20 have men here shown, any other desired projection located at different distances fromthc bail may be used as equivalent thereof in securing the relative adjustment of the bail to the remaining parts.

For the purpose of shifting the bail by means of the projection iJlICIOOIQ tlN, rock shaft is provided with bearings '21 in which. the sliding rod .2; is mounted, this rod having in. the frame is a rock shaft 14, Fig. 2, havingsecured thereto the ribbon shifting arms 23 adapted to receive a polychrome or other ribbon 24 fed from the spools 25 in the usual manner, and passing over the carrier 26 carried at the upper end of'these arms, for instance, as shown in my prior patent No. 475,623, May 24, 1892. These arms engage a fixed abutment 55 having an adjusting screw Lifiitherein to limit the travel of the arms in one direction. Other means may be used'for forming a stop for the arms or moving'par-tsby which they are carried.

For the purpose of providing for the necessary slack in the ribbon incident to the shifting of the ribbon carrying arms for different laten, as shown at.

this spool is intermittentlyoperated in the movement ofthe arms 23, as usual in the art. The rod 22 is adapted to be shifted by any desired connection, for instance, the bell crank lever 29 ivotally mountedat 30 upon the frame of t 1e machine, and having the slotted arm 31 embracing the pin or projection 32 from the rod 22. This lever is connected by the link 33 with theoperating lever 34 which in the present instance ispivotally mounted at'35 upon one side of the ed to cooperate with a spring pressed pin 41 mounted in an aperture 42 in one of the bear ings 21. The resistance is sufficient to hold the rod in its several positions. This ro'd has also mounted thereon'an adjusting plate 43 provided with elongated apertures 44 in which the projecting lugs 45 from'the ribbon arms 23 are disposed. This plate is secured in position by the curved end portions 46 thereof through which screws :47 or other attaching devices may extend,- and from one end of these lugs the operating plate 48-isprojected from the rod and provided with contact faces 49 and 50 adapted to move beneath the headsw the projections 19 and 20 carried by the universal bail. For the purpose of securing rigidity in the contact of the plate 48 with these projections, the'free end thereof is bent to form lugs 51 and '53 each disposed-in a differentplane and having an inclined edge to'ride upon the raised. surface 54 carried by the bail and thus. force the faces 49 and 50 into contact with the projections.

in their adjusted position by set screw 52 mounted in the bail to engage the stem of the screws.

Fig... 10' diagrammatically illustrates the path of the-tyre upon the ribbon 2.4.- When adjusted for t 'e shortest extent of vibration of the ribbon-arm thetype impression is upon the portion 60, and when adjusted for the the. ribbon.

longest vibration is upon the portion 61 of By an intermediate adjustment of the arm relative. to the bail the ribbon is not moved into the path of the type and therefore no impression is made thereon as when inimeographing.

In the operation of the invention it willbe seen that the plate 46 can only move downward with the bail and its upward travel beyond the normal position is prevented by the abutment engaging the arms so that when WVhenscrews are used for the. pur-' pose of these projections they maybe secured shifted into contact with the parts carried by the bail the latteris moved relative to. the

plate to v'aryits length of travel. Whcnthe face 49 on the operating plate is adjusted beneath the projection 19 from the bail the movement thereof is limited and the ribbon arm shifted for its shortest length of travel as in the use of black 'or'the principal color used. trasting color a shifting of the keyboard If it be desired to use red or a conlever moves the rod carrying the operating plateinto the position shown in Fig. 4 where the face 50 thereof extends beneath the" longer projection from. the bail thus allowing I a greatendegree of depression and a consequent longer travel of the shifting arm to bring into the ath of the typebar the portionof the rib color. In this movement the holding lug 53 rides'upon the projection 54 of the bail and lation. n the opposite travel of this plate the big 51 rides upon the surface 54. When the leverv 34 is located at the indication39, the plate 48 is disposed between the projections 19 and 20 sothat the bail is disconnected from the ribbon shifting arm and no vibrationof the ribbon'occurs it being held out of the path of the type-bar so that the latter may be-used for stencili'ng or other work where no orlglnal lmpression is necessary or desired.

This inventionpresents a simplepefiicient andeconomically constructed'form of ribbon shifting mechanism by which theextent of means of the adjustment of the universal on carrying the contrasting firmly su ports the plate in. its adjusted re-' bail relative to (the ribbon operating plate, and the projections of different lengths carried by this bail may be adjusted to secure the desired vibration of the ribbon. The

feeding of this ribbon from theface of the spool' next the platen provides for the necessary slack therein incident to the different degrees of vibration of the ribbon carrying arms and prevents thefornimg of slack at any point which would affect the ribbon feed.

or the type bar contact with the ribbon.

Having described my invention and. set forth its merits, what I claim and desire to sccure'by Letters Patent'is:-

1. In a ribbon shifting mechanism, a uni versalbail, a rock shaft, a ribbon carrying arm supported from said shaft, and shifting means carried by the shaft to contact with and vary the travel of said bail.

2. In a ribbon shifting mechanism, a uni versal bail, a rock shaft, a ribbr u carrying arm supported from said shaft, shifting means. carried by the shaft to vary the travel of said bail, and projections of different lengths upon said bail adapted to engage said shifting means.

3. In a ribbon shifting mechanism, a universal bail, a rock shaft, a ribbon carrying 100 travel of the ribbon maybe controlled by v arm supported from said shaft, shifting of said bail, projections of different lengths upon said ball adapted to engage said shifting means, and means for adjusting the length of said projections.

5. In a ribbon shifting mechanism, a universal bail, a rock shaft provided with bearings, a sliding member mounted in saidbearings, ribbon carrying arms engaging, said member, and an operating plate normally held against movement. in one direction of the bail travel and projected from said member into the path of said bail to shift and vary the travel thereof.

6; In a ribbon shifting mechanism, a universal bail, a'rock shaft provided with bearings, a sliding member mounted in said bearings, ribbon vcarrying arms engaging said member, an operating plate normally held against movement in one directionof the bail travel and rojected from said member into the path 0 said bail said plate having holding surfaces disposed in. different planes to shift said bail."

7. In a ribbon shifting mechanism, a universal bail, a rockshaft provided with bearings, a sliding member mounted in said bearings, ribbon carrying arms engaging said member, an operating plate normally held against movement in one direction of the bail travel and projected'from said member into the path of said bail and having holding surfaces dis osed in different planes to shift said bail, an means for retaining said sliding member in shifted position.

- rod, a rib on carryin (30' 8. In a ribbon shifting mechanism, a universal bail, a rock shaft provided with bearings, a sliding member mounted in said bearings, ribbon carrying arms. engaging said member, an operating plate normally held against movement in one direction of the bail .trax el and rojected-from said member into the path of said bail to shiftand vary the travel thereof, an operating lever disposed at the keyboard, a link extending rearwardly therefrom, and a crank lever connected to said link and to said sliding member.

I 9. In a ribbon shifting mechanism, a universal bail, arock shaft provided with bearings, a sliding rodmounted in said bearings, a slotted ad'usting plate mounted upon-said arm mounted upon said rodand provide with proje'ctions'extending into the slots of said plate, and

means extending from said rod to contact with and va -Y the travel of the universal bail.

10. In a ribbon shifting mechanism, a universal bail, a rockgshaft provided, withbearings, a sliding rod mounted in said bearings a slotted adjusting plate mounted upon'said rod, a ribbon carryin arm mounted upon said rod and provide with projections extending into the slots of said plate, and a deflected operating plate carried by said rod and disposed beneath said universal bail to contact therewith and vary the travel thereof.

11. In a ribbon shifting mechanism, a universal bail, a rock shaft provided with bearings, a sliding rod mounted in said bearings, a

slotted adjusting plate mounted upon said rod, a ribbon carrying arm mounted upon said rod and provided with projections extending into the slots of said plate, a deflected operating plate carried by said rod and disposed beneath said universal bail, and spaced projections carried by the under face of the universal bail at opposite sides of said operating plate.

12. .In a ribbon shifting mechanism, a universal bail, a rock shaft provided with bearings, a sliding rod mounted in said bearings, a slotted adjusting plate mounted upon said rod, a ribbon carrying arm mounted upon said rod and provided with projections extending intothe slots of said plate, a deflected operating plate carried by said rod and disposed beneath said universal bail, contact faces upon said operating plate and spaced projections of different lengths at o osite sides of saidvplate in the path of said aces when shifted.

13. In a ribbon shifting mechanism, a universal bail, a rock shaft provided with bearings, a rod having peripheral grooves adjacent to one of said bearings, a friction retaining device carriedby said bearings, means carried by said rod to shift the universal bail and normally held against movement in one direction of the bail travel, ribbon arms carried by saidrod, a pin extended laterally from said rod, a crank shaft having .a slotted movement of the ribbon toward and from the spool axis.

15. In a ribbon shifting mechanism, a rock shaft, a universal bail carried thereby, a shifting device mounted upon said rock shaft, and an operating plate extending from said device to engage and vary the travel of said bail for different distances.

16. Iii a ribbon shifting mechanism, a rock shaft, a .universal bail carried thereby, a shifting device mounted upon said rock shaft, an operating plate having a contact face with holding lugs disposed in difierent planes, and headed projections upon the universal-bail disposed beneath said faces at opposite sides of said plate.

17. In a ribbon shifting mechanism, a rock shaft, a universal bail carried thereby, a

shifting device mounted upon said rock shaft, an operatmg plate havlng a contact face with holding lugs disposed in different planes,

headed projections upon the universal bail disposed beneath said faces at opposite sides of said plate, and means for adjustingsaid PTOjGCtiOTlS relative to said bail.

. 18. In a ribbon shifting mechanism, a'universal bail, a rock shaft, ashifting device carried thereby and provided with an operating posite sidesof said plate to permitian inac tive position of the plateintermediate ofsaid projections, 'a ribbon carrier mounted upon said rock shaft, and a keyboard shifting mechanism adapted to move said operating plate into contact with either projection or intermediate thereof.

20. Ina ribbon shifting mechanism, $11111 versal bail provided with spaced pro ections of different lengths, and a shifting device normally held against movementvin one direction of the bail travel and having an operating face adapted to contact with either of said projections to shift the bail.

21. In a ribbon shifting mechanism, a universal bail, provided with spaced'projections of different engths, a shifting device having an operating face adapted to contact with either of said projections, and a holding device projected from said shifting device to engage a surface of said bail.

22. In a ribbon shifting mechanism, a universal. ball provlded with spaced pro ections of different lengths, a shifting device having an operating plate adapted to contact with said projections, and holding lugs of different lengths extended from said plate to'engage a surface upon said bail.

23. In a ribbon shifting mechanism, a uni-.

versal bail provided with spaced projections of different lengths, a shifting device having an operating plate disposed to engage said projections, holding lugs of different. lengths extended from said plate, and a raised surface upon said bail disposed in the path of travel of said lugs.

24. In a ribbon shifting mechanism, a

shifting device comprising an operating'plate, having its free end bent u on itself and bifurcated to form parallel aterally extending lugs of different lengths, a bail disposed to engage said lugs, and ineans for normally hold} mg said deviceiagamst' mo vement 111 one d1- rection of the bail travel.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

- CHARLES SPIRO.

Witnesses: j

- Enwn. E'.'JoNns, 1 FRANK A. CORLIN. 

